Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/82

832 The Vytians suppose the root and tender stalks to possess virtues in dropsical cases ; they sicken and excite expectoration, (Ainslie).

The plant is used in colds and eyes diseases to cause sneezing, whence the Hindi name Nakchikni. This property of the plant is also known in Madras, where the young shoots are cut and the exuding juice is inserted into the nose- (Pharmacographia Ind. II, 445).

The fresh follicles, freed from seeds and then' comose appendages, were bruised in a mortar and the juice expressed. The juice was heated to boiling to coagulate albuminous matters and filtered, and the liquor after evaporation to a small bulk, was treated with two volumes of spirit to remove mucilage and salts. After dissipating the spirit by a gentle heat the acidulous solution had a bitterish taste, was free from Tannic matters and contained an abundance of glucose. It was shaken with ether and the ethereal solution left a mass of light coloured transparant scales, soluble in water with a peculiar bittesish — sweet taste and neutral or slightly acid reaction. This solution gave an abundant white precipitate with tannin, none with neutral plumbic acetate and with alkaloidal reagents, such as potassio— mercuric iodide and Iodine in potassium iodide only if previously acidified. With strong aqueous alkali a precipitate without colour, was obtained. With sulphuric acid the dried scales dissolved with a brown colour, passing through cherry — red to purple, and finally separated as a black powder. With Nitric acid no colour was manifested in the cold. Boiling with diluted acid destroyed the bitterness of the principle with the formation of an insoluble brown substance, such as would attend the decomposition of a glucoside. We consider this glucoside to be the active principle of the fruits and propose to name it Dregein. [Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II. pp. 445-446].

N.B. — The Flora of British India notices the following varieties of this plant, viz., 1. bulbosa proper, 2. Lushii ; 3. esculenta.

Vern. :— Mánchi, Manda (Tel, Tam.), Gálot (Punj.) ; Khap- parkadu, Gáyala (Mar.)-

Habitat: — From Western India, the Punjab and upper Gangetic plains as far East as Allahabad, southward to Travancore.

A twining herb. Root tuberous. Steins very slender. Leaves excessively variable, fleshy. In some varieties, the leaves are petioled l-2in., rarely more, orbicular oblong-elliptic or obcordate,